ปีที่ ๓๒ ฉบับที่ ๓ กรกฎาคม-กันยายน ๒๕๕๐

The Journal of the Royal Institute of Thailand ‡ª√’ ¬∫‡∑’ ¬∫√“¡“¬≥–©∫— ∫«“≈¡’ °‘ °— ∫√“¡®√‘ µ¡“π— ¢Õßµÿ ≈ ’ ∑“ Vol. 32 No. 3 Jul.-Sep. 2007 582 Abstract Comparative Study between the Ramayana of Valmiki and Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidas Srisurang Poolthupya Fellow of the Academy of Arts, The Royal Institute, Thailand Rama’s heroic deeds might have been told in the oral tradition before it was written down. Rama may be a historical person but his story now appears in the form of epic literature. He is extolled as a god, an Avatara of Lord Vishnu who came to destroy the evil demon Ravana. Two most important literary works that tell of Rama’s deeds are the Ramayana of Valmiki written down around 500 B.C. and Ramcharitmanas written in the 16 th Century. The Ramayana is written in Sanskrit whereas Ramcharitmanas is in Hindi dialect. The main story is the same but the details are different. The Ramayana ends with Sita in exile and her final abode in Patala with Mother Earth. The Ramcharitmanas on the other hand ends with the prosperity and happiness permeating Rama’s reign. Rama is the ideal man in the Ramayana while he is stressed as the Avatara of Vishnu in Ramcharitmanas. The main differences occur because the two epics were written in different periods of history. Fearing the threats of Islam, the Bhakti movement encouraged Hindus to take refuge in Rama as God. The Ramcharitmanas becomes the spiritual guide for Hindus up to the present day. Key words : the Ramayana, Ramcharitmanas